Approach table, apron and kick-off



Get. 9, 1956 Filed June 11, 1951 E. T. PETERSON 2,765,896 APPROACHTABLE. APRON AND KICK-OFF 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Edward TJefe won1955 E. T. PETERSON APPROACH TABLE}. APRON AND KICK-OFF 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed June 11 1951 Adm lllll Get. 9, 1956 E. T. PETERSON 2,765,896

APPROACH TABLE. APRON AND KICK-OFF Filed June 11 1951- 5 SheetsSheet 3 1INVETOR Edward [Peterson 0d. 9, 1956 T. PETERSON APPROACH TABLE. APRONAND KICK-OFF 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 11 1951 I VENTOR rafZfleiersan.

Oct. 9, 1956 PETERSON 2,765,896

APPROACH TABLE. APRON AND KICK-OFF Filed June ll, 1951 5 Sheets-shew 5INVENTOR Edward T. Pe If e a ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,7 65,896APPROACH TABLE, APRON AND KICK-OFF Edward T. Peterson, Reading, Pa.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Birdsboro Steel Foundry and MachineCompany, Birdsboro, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application June 11,1951, Serial No. 230,894 1 Claim. (Cl. 198-24) The present inventionrelates to approach tables for rolling mills, and particularly to theconstruction of the aprons, the plunger lift mechanism and the kick-offstherefor.

A purpose of the invention is to permit the handling of two strands ofstock on a single cooling bed, thus avoiding the necessity for using adouble cooling bed.

A further purpose is to permit two strands to be handled simultaneouslyor substantially simultaneously in the same approach table mechanism byproviding two sets of approach table rolls with aprons and kick-offswhich discharge to the same cooling bed.

A further purpose is to provide apron bars from the apron of an upperset of approach table rolls which extend over the path of the stock orover a lower set of approach table rolls and permissibly also over thestraightening notch in the apron of a lower approach table.

A further purpose is to provide apron bars for the apron of an upperapproach table which may alternately carry the stock into thestraightening notch of the apron of a lower approach table or may clearthe straightening notch and deposit the stock on a cooling bed withoutpassing through the straightening notch of the lower apron.

A further purpose is to provide plunger lifts for the notches of the twoaprons and to operate the plunger lifts by the same plunger liftmechanism suitably swinging in different directions.

A further purpose is to provide heads on kick-01f arms which slopediagonally with respect to the direction of approach of the stock andalso desirably slope toward the direction of kick-off, so as to minimizethe danger of damage to the kick-01f arms by contact with an end of thestock.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claim.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerousembodiments in which my invention may appear, selecting the forms shownfrom the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactoryoperation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

Figure l is a typical transverse section of an approach table mechanismin accordance with the invention, the actual section shown being takenadjoining one end of the table, but substantially conforming to thetransverse section at any one of a number of points along the table.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of Figure l on the line 22.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the driving mechanism for theplunger lifts of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section of Figure 3 on the line 44.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of the plunger lift mechanism.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the drive for the kick-off for the upperapproach table.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional end elevation of the drive for thekick-off from the lower set of approach table rolls.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective of the head of the kick-01f armsused on the lower approach table.

Figure 9 is a perspective of one of the alternate apron bars shown inFigure l.

Describing in illustration but not in limitation and referring to thedrawings:

In rolling mill practice, especially in rolling steel and iron stocksuch as bars, rods, strips and the like, the strand of stock after ithas completed its rolling on the rolling mill, is carried by an approachtable to a hot bed or cooling bed. The stock is kicked off laterallyfrom the approach table, passing over the apron, and being received onthe notched or smooth bars of the cooling bed to begin the progressionacross the cooling bed.

In some cases it has been desirable to handle two strands of stock fromthe rolling mill simultaneously, and Where this practice is followed, ithas been usual to employ .two cooling beds back-to-back, and receivestock from approach tables which kick off in opposite directions.

This of course necessitates the construction of double cooling bedfacilities, and where the practice of rolling double strands is notfollowed constantly, one of the cooling beds is likely to be idle for asubstantial part of the time of operation.

In accordance with the present invention, itis possible to roll twostrands simultaneously, and deposit the same on a single cooling bed,avoiding the necessity of using double cooling beds. This is not only agreat economy in the cost of equipment, but also reduces the spacerequirement tremendously, as cooling beds of course occupy large areas.

By the invention it is possible to carry one strand of stock above oneof the approach tables to the cooling bed with or without travel throughthe straightening notch of the approach table above which the strand iscarried. The operator is also permitted to select either of two modes ofoperation, in one of which the strand enters the straightening notch ofthe approach table above which the strand has been carried, and inanother of which the strand avoids entry into this straightening notch.It is also possible by the present invention to operate the plunger liftfor the second approach table from the same mechanism which operates theplunger lift for the first approach table, merely moving the mechanismin the opposite direction.

The upper approach table does not permit ready access immediately belowthe rolls for insertion of the conventional type of kick-off mechanismbecause of the need of positioning supports, and in accordance with theinvention a kick-01f is provided for the upper approach table whichfunctions merely by rotating or angularly turning a shaft carrying oneor preferably two sets of kick-01f arms which sweep across the path ofthe stock.

Provision is also made in the present invention to eliminate difiicultythrough bumping of one of the ends of the stock against one of thekick-off bars in the oscillating arm type kick-off. This ditficulty isovercome by providing heads on the kick-off arms which slope diagonallyto the direction of approach of the stock an also suitably toward thedirection of kick-01f.

One set of approach table rolls 20 (Figure 1, in which only one isshown) extends longitudinally and horizontally of a lower approachtable, the rolls being shouldered at 21 at the side opposite fromkick-off and free from shouldering at the side of kick-oif. Each roll isdriven independently by a motor 22 supported on a frame 23 which extendslongitudinally beneath the approach table.

Suitably disposed above and to one side of the set of approach tablerolls 20, I provide a second set of approach table rolls 24 (Figure 1only one of which is shown), which extend longitudinally at suitablyspaced intervals for the individual rolls and provides a horizontalsupport at the top for the stock. The rolls 24 .are not located, haveaprons belong to an upper approach table. Each of the rolls 24 isshouldered at 25 at the side opposite from the side of kick-off and isfree from shouldering at the side toward kick-off, which is toward theset of rolls 20. Each of the .rolls 24 is individually driven by a motor26 supported on a bracket 27 on the frame.

While .of course any desired relationship of width may exist between thetwo approach tables, as shown in Figure 1 the approach table rolls 2%are comparatively wide and the approach table rolls 24 are narrower, theintention being to handle the heavier and wider on the rolls 20 andutilize the rolls 24 for narrower and lighter stock.

The lower approach table is equipped with the usual side guards 28, andhas in between the rolls and extending laterally and downwardly from therolls toward the cooling bed, an apron 30 of well known form, having astraightening notch wall 31 extending up abruptly in the apron andrunning longitudinally of the approach table to receive and straightenstock leaving the approach table. A notch 32 is produced by the wall 31which receives the stock from the approach table rolls. When the stockis raised from the notch as later explained, it passes over -a higherportion 33 of the downwardly inclining apron, and is deposited on theusual cooling bed (not shown), which is positioned to the left in Figurel and receives stock leaving the apron.

The upper approach table rolls 24 are provided with overhanging sideguards 34 at the side opposite from the lower approach table rolls and,at points where the rolls 35 which extend downwardly toward the coolingbed and toward the lower approach table rolls. The aprons 35 have anabruptly upwardly extending straightening notch wall 36 which forms astraightening notch 37 running longitudinally of the upper approachtable. Beyond the straightening notch the aprons 35 are provided with araised wall 33, which has an apron extension over the lower approachtable.

The apron extension is formed by apron bars 40 or 40' which arealternately used and extend at least over the path of the stock on thelower approach table rolls. Socket openings 41 in the apron at a numberof points thereon receive supporting socket pins 42 which mountdownwardly sloping top portions 43 of the apron bars. In the form ofapron bars shown in solid lines at 40 in Figure l, the apron barsterminate substantially above the kick-off end of the approach tablerolls 2t) remote from the upper approach table, and thus will depositthe stock in the straightening notch 32 of the lower approach table. Onthe other hand in the form of apron bars shown in dot-and-dash lines inFigure 1 and shown in Figure 9, which are inserted simply by lifting thesocket pins 42 out of the socket openings 41 and inserting the socketpins of the other bars into these openings, the downwardly sloping topportion 43 of the apron bar extends to a position far enough down sothat the stock from the upper approach table will clear the straightening notch of the lower approach table as it slides down. The apron barswill of course be placed close enough together to provide adequatesupport for the stock, and will be as wide as necessary for thispurpose.

Stock is discharged from the straightening notches by plunger liftswhich are located at frequent intervals along the straightening notchesas best seen in Figures 1 and 2. The plunger lifts 44- for the lowerapron and 45 for the upper apron have heads 46 which are desirablysuitably rectangular, in lateral cross section, and have upper edges 47which slope downwardly more abruptly than the adjoining sloping portionsof the aprons. Each of the heads is mounted on a plunger rod 48 or 50 asthe case may be, which is suitably adjustably supported on .a cross bar51 or 52. The plunger rods 48 are offset to avoid interference. Openingsin the aprons for the heads 46 provide guiding walls 53 which assureadequate guiding of the heads in their up and down motion.

The cross bars 51 and 52 are pivotally connected at 54 to crank arms 55or 56 extending out suitably oppositely as shown in Figure 1 from ashaft 57, and positioned at intervals along the shaft. The shaft is madeup of tubes 58 which mount connecting flanged ends 66 joined together bypins 61 secured to one flange and extending through but longitudinallyfree in the other cooperating flange to form expansion joints whichconnect the respective shaft sections (Figure 2). Certain of the flangedends have bearing support at 62 on hearing mountings 63 on the frame.

The shaft 57 at one point along its length mounts a crank arm 6 3(Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5), which makes pivotal interconnection at itsouter end at 65 with a clevis adjustably connected to a connecting rod67 which is ad stably connected at 1% to a cross bar 7%). The cross atits opposite ends has connecting rods 71 and 72 adjustaoiy connectedtherewith and at the opposite ends the r: pivotally .ective connectingrods 71 and 72 are connected at 73 to similarly placed cranks 74 onopposite ends of a crank shaft 75 driven by a motor 76 through a speedreducer 77.

Supported above the side guards 34 of the upper approach table rolls onsuitably upwardly extending brackets, are bearings 78 (Figures 1, 2 and6) which rotatably mount a longitudinal shaft 3% extending above theapproach table rolls 24. The shaft 80 is suitably a long shaft extendingthe full length of the table and made up of sections joined by gear typecouplings 81 which form expansion ioints.

At intervals along the shaft extending radially therefrom are kick-offarms 82 of one set. Desirably diametrically opposite of the kick-offarms 32 are kick-off arms 33 of another set so that kick-off can beaccomplished by moving these arms through approximately 139". While therespective arms 32 and 33 are at positions 130 apart, it will beunderstood that some other circumferential spacing of the arms may beemployed if desired. a

The arms $2 and 83 swing in recesses 84 in the side guards, and in theirswinging motion sweep transversely across the path of the stock on therolls 24.

The drive of the kick-off arms 82 and 33 is accomplished by a motor 64(Figure 6) driving through a speed reducer S5 to a gear box 86. Anysuitable mechanism, such as limit switches, stops the operation afterthe proper angular turning as well known.

The kick-off employed for the lower approach table is of the moreconventional character best seen in Figures 1, 7 and 8. A crank shaft 37extends longitudinally beneath the approach table rolls 20, rotatablymounted on bearings 88. The crank shaft is driven in any suitable manneras by a motor 89 through a speed reducer 89 (Figure 7). The crank ateach crank position along the crank shaft mounts an eccentric strap 90which has a lower lever extension 91 pivotally connected near the bottomat 92 with a link 93 which is pivotally connected at 94 at its oppositeend to the frame. The various eccentric straps mount a longitudinallyextending kickofi bar 95 which supports at intervals corresponding tospaces between approach table rolls upstanding kick-off arms 96 whichnormally remain below the upper surface of the approach table rolls insuitable slots in the apron, but under operation of the crank rise abovethe rolls and sweep transversely of the path of the stock on the rollsfrom right to left in Figure 1 (the same as the direction of kick-offfrom the upper approach table). The kick-off arms 96 as shown in Figure8 have near their upper ends heads 97 which are provided with diagonalsurfaces 98 which extend diagonally from the point 10% at one sidenearest to the direction from which the stock is arriving to the edge101 at the opposite end of the diagonal 98 which is nearest to thedirection toward which kick-off is taking place. Thus, the horizontalcross section of the head is generally triangular, the side 102 oppositeto the direction toward which kick-off is taking place and the side 1103opposite to the direction from which the stock is arriving constitutingthe sides of the triangle and the diagonal 98 constituting the long sideor hypotenuse. The forward end of the stock or a rearward hook end ofthe stock, if either strikes against the head 97, will be deflectedtoward the direction to which kickoff is taking place, reducing thelikelihood that it will break off the kick-off arm In operation, if weassume that the approach tables are set up with the long apron bars 40'in place and the short apron bars 40 removed, stock arriving on thelower approach rolls travels in the direction away from the position ofthe observer in Figure 1, if it strikes one of the kick-01f arms, willhit the diagonal face 98 and be defiected toward the direction ofkick-off. This will minimize damage to the arms and the stock.

When the stock has proceeded far enough so that it is ready to be kickedoi, the kick-off motor 89 is started and the crank 87 turns in thedirection to move the heads 97 of the kick-01f arms up at the right to aposition above the level of the rolls 20 and then to the left whileremaining above the level of the rolls 20 until the stock is kicked offon to the apron 30. The stock will slide down the apron laterally untilit seats in the straightening notch 32 against the upstanding wall 31,thus having a tendency to remove any bends or lack of straightness fromthe heated stock. When operating manual-ly as soon as conditions on thecooling bed justify, the operator by moving the plunger lift motor 76 inthe direction to raise the plunger lift 44, will force the stock out ofthe straightening notch on to the top portion 33 of the apron, fromwhich the stock will drop on to the cooling bed as well known. This willof course be done automatically by limit switches where desired.

If double strand rolling is being used, a second strand will enter theposition of the observer on to the tops of rolls 24 of the upperapproach table. When this strand has moved far enough to be kicked oflF,motor 84 is operated to turn the kick-off arms 82 clockwise in Figure 1through 180, causing the arms to sweep across the path of the stock onthe rolls 24. The stock then travels down the apron 35 into thestraightening notch 37 against the straightening abutment 36. Thisstraightens the stock. With manual operation, as soon as conditions onthe cooling bed are suitable, the operator operates motor 76 in thereverse direction from that in which it was previously operated, raisingplunger lifts 45 in Figure 1 and raising the stock until it is on top ofapron bars 40' and slides down over the apron bars above the lowerapproach table rolls and above their apron and straightening notch,landing on the cooling bed. The same can be accomplished automaticallyif desired.

In case the approach table is equipped with the shorter bars 40 insteadof the long apron bars 40', a slight difference in operation occurs. Inthis latter case the stock after leaving the straightening notch 37slides down over the apron bars 40 and drops on to the apron 30 of thelower approach table, sliding down into the straightening notch 32. Fromthis straightening notch 32 the stock is raised by plunger lifts 44 onto the upper portion 33 of the apron beyond the straightening notch 32,and slides down on to the cooling bed. Other lengths of apron bars canbe used, the longer ones avoiding the second straightening notch.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope ofmy claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

In an approach table for rolling mill, a set of approach table rolls,kick-off arms extending upwardly from below the tops of the rolls andhaving heads at the upper ends of the arms, the heads having in thedirection opposite to the direction of motion of the Work on theapproach table, inclined surfaces directed diagonally toward the side atwhich the work is kicked 01f from the approach table and adapted todeflect work in the direc tion of kick-off in case the work strikesagainst any one of the heads, and means for manipulating the kick-01farms to move them radially across the approach table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.18,996 Peterson Nov. 14, 1933 1,689,552 Kastel Oct. 30, 1928 1,764,663Voigt June 17, 1930 2,024,513 Diescher Dec. 17, 1935 2,498,449 PetersonFeb. 21, 1950

